When I close my eyes, I can smell the dust from the street in St Louis du Nord. I can hear high-pitched voices calling my name in heavy Haitian accents "Ayerleen! Ayerleen!" I can see big brown eyes looking up at me from small ebony faces. I can taste fresh mangoes that Mirlouse bought just for me. I can feel the stroke of tiny hands rubbing my arms, fascinated by my white skin.
As I count down the days until I set foot in Haiti again (37), I am filled with longing and desire. One of my friends described this way: "You're heart's already in Haiti. You just need to be reunited with it. And you won't be whole until you are."
On September 28, I will head to Haiti for 2 weeks.
In case you're wondering, here's the plan:
~Fly into Port au Prince
~Take a bus to St Louis du Nord
~Visit some of the most wonderful people I have ever met. Spend time with the kids that changed my life. And enjoy my 23rd birthday!! (I couldn't ask for a better birthday present!)
~Travel to Cap-Haitien to meet my new students, see the Kids Alive School and Children's Village, and tour my future home.
~Back to the US on October 11.
I wish it could be longer than 2 weeks, but let's be honest, I'll take what I can get!
Here's what you can be praying for:
~I'm hosting 2 events to raise support and to share my heart for Haiti with my friends and family. Pray that planning and execution of these events would go smoothly.
~Safe travels.
~That it would be a trip of encouragement for me to remind me that my dream is coming true, even though it doesn't always feel like it will ever happen.
Thank you for your prayers!